Continuous electrical outlet



Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and' usefu1 improvements in electricalwiring devices and has particular relation- 150 a convenience outletdevme.

An object of the invention. is to provide a con- Veniehce outletstructure o'f an elongated configuration and into w-hich a p1ug cap erother wiring device equipped with prongs may be plgged' at any placealong the lengch of such device;

Another object is t Drovide a device having the chatacteristicsindicated and also includi'ng a cover meansfor the devicetopreventacciidenf injury 130 anyone coming in contact W-ith the deviceand to give the device a complet6 appearance anal clo'se it against theentrance' of dust, dirtandthe 1ike.

A further object is to provide an elen'1ent of safety whereby the dangerof c'asual er unex'-' pected contact with the conductors of the elementWill be avcided.

Ye't a furth'er obj'ect is to=provieie in connec'tionwith an elongateder continuous outlet device a'h improxred mea'ns for the Mounting 01'the de-= vice Whereby the latter may be mo'uhted o'n the upper edge 0f abaseboard or in any other Con- Ve'nieht ldcation anal is"- proberly, yetremo vably s'upported in position'.

A still fuzther object is to provide in a con-- 1iih'uous outlet devic'eimproved corner connector" an'd a1so= an i1'npro'ved conr'1e'ct0r foruse in the cnnecting of leads with ehe wiring device a's fromany 0r theusua1 metal out1efi box.

Other objeccs and advantages of the invention will become appare'nt froma consideration of the following detailed des'cription taken inconnectio'r'x With the accompa'nying drawings wherein= a s'atis'-factory embodiment of the; invehtion is shown. However,- it is tobeunderstood thatthe in'vention is not limi-ted to the details dis'closedbubin' cludes all such variations and modificattionsas fal1 within thespirit 01 the invention and'- the scope of the appe'nded claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometx-ic view showing a corner of a room with the presentcontinuous out1et mounted on the baseboard 035 such ro'orrl;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view on a larg'er' scale show* ing my improvedc'o'nn'ec'tor connecting the coritinuous outlet device into a hou'sewiring circuit;

Fig. 3' is a front elevational view of the 001'1- struction cf Fig. 2;

Fig-. 4 is a transvers'esec'tional view takten a1o'ng the 1ine 4-4 ofFig. 3 with a cover in sectioh thereover;

2 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken a1ong the line 55 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical o)? transverse section'al view takten a1ong theplane of the 1ine 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view on a larger' scaleth'a'n Fig. 1 andshowing a covering for the pr'eseht continuous out1et;

Fig; 8 is a vertical se0tiorial view showing a plug cap mounted on' thepresent outlet, ehe view bein'g taken along the 1ine 88 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a front elevationeil view on a larg'ar' sc'ale than Fig. 1 andshowing the mounting 0f a plug cap in the prese1'1t continuous outletarid between adjaaeno endportiohs of a cover; 1

Fig. 10 is a top p1an view on the sca1e of Fig 2 showing the cornerconnet'ztor of the present 00htinuous outle't;

Fig. 11 is a view partl'y in front elevaoio3 aind partly in transve'rsesectio'n, the view being haken along the plane of the line HH of Fig;10;

Fig. 12 is anisomettib view of a-conduct'or stri empl3*ed in a Cornerconnec't'o'r cf the p'1tese'nt concinuous outlet structure; and

Fig-. 13 is a sirr1ila'r view 0f a conductcr Strip en1ployed in theconnector through the medium of whi'ch the pres'ent Continuous out1et iscorI-* nected in the house Wiring system.

Referring in detail to the drawing"s' at H! 1s indicated, in brokenlines, a corner portion of a rooxn includim; Walls II and I2 an'd a,bas'ebo'azd I3. F01 the present purpose, my improved comtinuous outletconstruction is shown as mounted on the uppe'r edge of the baseboard (3,althot1gh it will be unde'istood that the constructio'nmay be used inany desired or convenient location;

My improved continuous outl'et iS shown in Fig. I in a generaL assemblyand there such outletincludes an elongated body 14-, the details of001'1- struction of which will be given, a spring metal mountingstr'ucture o1 sfirip generally designat'ed l5 a cover structure which isprovided in the desired lengths and Which is disclosed in three sec'-tions in Fig. 1, each such section being generally designated I6aconnector l! for connection of the continous molding With the housewiring circuit, and a corner connector !8 for' the comtinuousbody I4.Also, in that figure, a ph'1g cap is generally designated I8. This plugcap I9 is shown as of a general configuration somewhat similar to" thatof the cover structure I6 and as located between adjacent ends of apair' of cover sections specifically designated 20 and 21.

The' co'ntinuous outlet 14 is best extruded With a pair of spacedelongated conductors22 and' 23 therein. The 011t1et I 4' qg'mpri'ses anelongate'd ioody 24 of insulating material and it has been i1- lustratedas being formed by extrusion proeesses. This body 24 is shown asapproximately square in transverse section (see especially Figs. 6 and7) and in its upper Wall, toward its rear edge, is provided With a notch25 and in its lower side, toward its forvvard edge, with a notch errecess 25. lt will be understood that the conductors 22 and. 23 areco-extensive with any particular section cf the body 25 and they arelocated we11 whin the body and access is to be had to them throughentrance s1ots 21 and 28 opening through the front or outer edge of ehebody and in their inner ends terminating entering transversely circu1arpassages 25 and 35 located at the upper and lower sides, respectively cfthe conductors 22 and 23.

It is noted that the entrance s1ots 27 and 25 are locatecl somewhaoabove and be1ow the upper and lower surfaces cf the conductors 22 and 23so that there is aslight drop-off from the inner ends of said entrancesso said conductors. The purpose of this is 130 prevent casua1 contactWith the conductors shculd a child. push a hairpin er the like throughehe entrance slots. Intermediate the ends cf the entrance s1ots and intheir respective upper and 1ower sides, such slots are shown as providedWith s1ight recesses 31 and 32, respective1y, the purpose of which Willappear.

The metal mounting strip I5 is emplcyed for the proper locating andmounting cf ehe cantinucus outlet molding or device I4. Such mouncingstrip I5 is, cf course, elongated and transversely it is somewhatL-shaped in that it includes a back portion 33 and a bottom or lateralporon 34. In addition, the upper edge cf Ehe back 53 is bent forwardlyproviding a narrow forwarcdy projeccing extension 35 approximatelyparallel with the lower Wall 34 and then this extensicn is ben'sinwardly ab right angles providing a 1ip 35. Additionally, the forwarder free end portion f the bottom wa11 34 is bent to provide atransversely curved spring 1ip 31.

The strip E is mounted in any suitable manner but is shown as secured tothe baseboard 53 by screws 38 passing through the betteln Wall 34 cf thestrip and preferably having cheir heads countersunk in such Wall and.then threaded into the baseboard. Additionally, screws 35 pass throughthe vertical 01 rear Wall 33 of the strip and preferably have theirheads countersunk in such Wall and. then such screws are shown asthreaded into the wa1l structure H cf the room. In connecticn With themounting cf the strip i5, i1', is to be understood that the screws 38and 39 may bcth be used as illustrated 01 if the mounting only permitsof the use cf screws through one Wall of the strip, that Will generallybe found sufficient.

Additionally it is preferred that the screw holes in the strip wa1ls .bespaced but short distances apart since then When only a short length ofthe strip is used, any particular connection even a short length, Willhave suificient holes for the passage of the necessary securing screvvs.In this connection it Will be understocd that the strip may be providedin lengths and oben savred er ot'nerwise cut so the desired lengths onthe job.

When ehe strip is in place, the body 14 is mounted by arranging it ab aslight angle and placing its lower rear corner on the Wall 35 cf thestrip and with its upper rear corner as much as possible in the rear cfthe 1ip 35 of the spring meizal st1ip. Then the body is simply rockeddownwardly; 170 locate it in the inner orrear portion of the recess 26prcvided in the bottom forward edge of the body M. T0 remove the bodyI4, it is simply rocked in 111e opposite direction unti1 it is releasedand then 113 is 1ifted out. I.t is noted that the rear corners cf thebody are nonstrucced on arcs to permit cf the described rocking movementfor the mounting and. removal of the body.

With the constructicn described, it will be understood that for anyparticular installation the proper length cf strip 15 is provided andsuch length may be cut from a strip of indefinite length. Similarly; theproper length cf the outlet body 14 is provided. I-Iowever, simplymounting cf the strip and the snapping cf a boc1y section into a sectioncf the strip does not provide the necessary wiring connections 1:0 theconductors 23 and 22. 'Ihis connection is provided through theemployment cf a connector device such as that generally designated H inthe drawings.

Connector H comprises a bcdy o1 insulating material including a rearWall 55, bottom Wall G! and end Walls 52 and 43. There is 110 front Wallin the connector H and the same is not herein consideredas incluciing atop wa1l, although it does include a very slight forwardly projectingupper 1ecige shown as of a size or width substantially equal to thethickness cf the 1ip35 of the strip I5 and terminating about fiush Withthe botom cf a notch er 1ecess provided in the upper edges of the endWalls 32 and 53 and a1- ranged to align with the notch 25 of a section0f ehe body M- when the connector I! and such body sec'ci-on are mountedby be strips 15. 1

When using one cf the connectors H, it is preferred that the same belocated over any or the usual meta1 wa1l outlet box and such box issuggested at 56 by dotted 01' broken lines in certain figures of thedrawings. These boxes 56 are customarily provided With mounting ears 51and 48 extending from their respective ends and for my purpose, I passanchoring screws 45 through adjacent end portions of the Walls 33 cf apair oi strips I5 and thread such screws into the ears 47 and 48. box 46is mounted.

T0 permit cf adjustments of the outlet box or cf the metal strips I5employed, the latter in their adjacent end portions are provided withelongated openings 55 through which the screws 49 pass. Hera it is alsonoted that while end portions of the strips I5 extend over 0r across theends of the box 4G, the adjacenc ends of the strips are somewhat spacedleaving an Opening 5l which aligns with an -opening 52 in the rear Wall45 cf the connector I7. Through these openings, leads 53 and 54 arecarried.

These 1eads are connected, respectively, with lower and upper conductors55 and 56 mounted in the connector I'I and preferably anchored In thisway, the outlet Q the rear Wall of the latter as by screws, rivetsBinding posts 58 and 59 secure free ends for the passage of screws, asWill apare mounted toward the upper and lower edges of the insulaeingbody so as: t'o leave clear the opening 52 through ehe rear wall of suchbody andalso toamialy space the contluctors from one another toavaid anychance f short circuit. The strap-like 1ear portion 60 of ehe conduceor56 lies just uncler the slight ledge 44 on ehe forward edge cf the upperportion of the wall 40 of ehe insulating body of the connector I'I so asto be separated by such poreion 50 from any possibility of contact withthe 1ip 36 of ehe strip I5.

' Self-eappingscrews 61 pass through ehe openings 65 anti 66 of the endsof ehe conductors 55 and 55 anti through the adjacent portions of eheend Walls 42 anti 43 Qf the connector body. While these screws have a.purpose of establishing electrical connections between ehe conductors 55anti 56 anti the conductors 23 and 22 inehe bodies I4, such screws alsoserve eo assist in mounting the conductors 55 anti 56 in ehe insulating.bodies of ehe connectors I'I. The screws 61 are passed ehrough ehe ends63 and 64 and.

ehe Walls 42 and 43 from ehe inner sitles of ehe insulating body ofwhich said walls constitute parts. Thus, ehe heads of the screws arecatetl wiehin said body. However, since the body is open ab ies frontand top sides, access is had for ehe anchoring of ehe leads 53 anti 54130 ehe binding posts 58 anti 59 anti m the heads of ehe screws 61 forthe turning of ehe. latter.

The conductor strips 55 anti 56 are locaeed approximately in the samevertical relation as the conductors 23 anti 22 of ehe body I4 anti theend walls- 42 anti 43 of the insulatlng body of the connector I1 areapproximately ehe size and shape 0f an anti of the body I4. Therefore,afeer a pair of the secl;ions o f. strip I5 has been used to mount aWall box 46 and a conneceor I! has been mounted an ehe. adjacent endportions of said strips in spanning relation With eheir spaced ends, thenecessary securing of the leads 53 anti 54 to the strips 55 anti 55 maybe made.

Then a pair 0f sections of the desired lengeh cf theelongated body: I4are snapped into place in ehe strips I5 at each end of ehe insulatingbody cf the connector I]. The adjacent ends 0f the body or section I4are pushed against the outer sicles t f ehe endwalls: 42 and 43 of ehec0nnetttor I'I. 'I-his W111 bl'ill' Ijhe openings 65 anti 65 of theconductors 55 and 56 ineo alignment wieh the transversely circularpassages 35 anal 23 ae the oueer sides of ehe conductor strips 23 and22. These transversely circular passages have a diameter equal to thediameter of ehe body of a screw 61 to ehe root of ies thread.

Now, these screws 61 are threaded into the end portions o-f ehe passages30 and 29 of ehe body I4. As ehis is done, the threads of the screwsbite ineo the conductors 23 and 22 3Ild also into portions of ehe bodyI4 about the openings 35 and 29. In this way, a good e1ectrical andmechanlcal connection isestablished ehrough the screws between ehecondueeors 55 anti 55 of the connector I1" and the c0nduceors 23 anti 22of ehe body I4. Ae this time, assuming ehe leads 53 anti 54110 have beenconnected up, uslng the binding posts 58 anti 59 it will be seen ehatthe conductors 23 and 24 are conneceed in ehe house wiring circuit.

The cover sections Hi a1e provlded in pieces of considerable length antlit is plannecl that they wouldbe sawed or 0therwise cue eo desiredlengbhs 011 the job. Each such cover seceion comprises a hollowbody orshell-like portion 68', com'prising a lower straightportion 58a anti anupper emved" 01 arcuate portion 68b. The arcuaee portion canstitutesapproximaeely one-quarter of a circle 01 is of any other contour. On theinner sitle of the. lower straight portion 68a are vertically spacedledge-like portions 01 legs 59 which extend for the length of the coverer from end-toencl ehereof anti preferably are formed integraltherewith. The lege 89 areoutwartily curved o1 off-set providlng 1ipp0reions 'I! along their free edges. This construction is as clearlyshown inentrances 2'I anti 23 and simply pushed in, The

lip-like poreions 75 at the free ends of seid legs snap ineo ehe netches3I 21'1. 32 formed in the upper anti 10Wer Walls, respectlvely,v 0f theentrances 21 ancl 2-8 am]. thusserve 130 hold ehe cover in place.

While the cover is in place, its upper curved portion 58b preferablyextends back over the body I4 to engage ehe Wall portion above such bodysomewhat in ehe nature of a molding antl exentls downwardly eo cover therecess 25 anti. preferably laps over ehe baseboartl.. Therefore, ehecover section I5 completely conceals the elengaeed body I4 anti itsmounting anti forming a cover over ehe same prevenes ehe upper edge ofsuch body and mouneing f1om forming aehelilike structure eo collect duseantl the 1ike. The cover section gives a compleeed appearance 01' afinish eo the eneire installation.

In a corner, ehe ends cf the cover seceions extending the corner arepreferably cut form a mite joint assuggested by ehe line 7II of Fig. 1anal the p0reions of the cover overlapping ehe corner connector 18 willnot be equipped with ehe legs er ledges 69 so that such legs o1 ledgeswill not interfere W-ith o1 p'r05ece into such sonnector I8.

Slnce the cover comprises ehe seceions I5, and ehe body serueture I4anti its conductors 22 and 23 proVide a continuous outlee, lt Will beumlerseootl that a plug cap-may be connectecl into the ouelet a1; anydeslred place along the length of the latter. Preferably, any outleeemployed is of somewhae the construction of the outlet I9 of ehedrawings anti, in addition 110 a body s2 mounting contaee prongs I3,will include an upper arcuate or rearwarclly curved portion 74 of 'ehegeneral curvature of the pare 58b of a cover. Wherever a plug cap is eobe plugged in, the cover will be severed, probably a part reznoved, toleave a space between ehe severed ends of the cover of wiclth toaccommodaee ehe plug cap.

Then the prongs I3 of ehe plug cap are insertecl through ehe entrances22 anti 28 and snap 0r spring ineo engagement With the conductors 22 and23. For ehis purpose, the upper prong 73 has a clependln inner analpertlon 55 while The lovver' prong E3 has an upwardly bene er curvedinner end p0reion 7%. These end por'elons will snap over the poreions ofthe insulatlng body I4 at o1 eoward the forward edges Of the conductors22 anti 23 ancl into engagement with said conductors. The prongs 73 areshown as electrically conneceed with binding posts 'I-I eo which eheWires of a conductor 18 are 'a'nchored, such conductor 78 being any leadcord.

The corner connector I8 is more particularly disclosed in Figs. 10, 11and 12. Such connector includes a body 19 of insulating material and.the latter comprises a pair of integral portions located a1: rightangles to one another and including a bottom Wall or base portion 86,upstanding right angularly disposed back er rear Wall portions 8I andend walls 82 ancl 83. These end walls are located at the ends of theright angularly related portions of the body 79 and in planes normal 110one another and are of the height of the rear wall portions 8I. From theforegoing, lt is to be understood that the body 19 is open ab its upperside with the exception of a slight forwardly projecting ledge 84corresponding in purpose with the ledge 44 of the connector I!previously described and of a Wiclth equal to, or substantially equal tothe thickness of the depending lip 36 of the extension 35 of themounting strip Within the body 79 are mountecl a pair of upper and lowerconductors 85 and 86 of identical sonstruction and of which eheconducoor 85 is shown alone in Fig. 12. Each conductor includes rightangularly related portions 88 which are fastenecl against the innersides of the respective rear 01 back wall portlons 8I of the body 79 andare secured in place as by screws or the 1ike 89, passing through holes89a.

Additionally, each conductor includes ends 66 and 9l provided withopenings 92 and .93. These ends 90 and SH lie against the inner surfacesof the end walls 82 and 63 of the body 19 and selitapping screws 94 arepassed through such openings. It. will be understood that the ends 90and 91 and the openings 92 and 93 of the respective upper and lowerconductors 35 and 86 of a corner fitting bear the same relation 130 thetransversely circular passages 29 and 36 and the conductors 22 and 23 ofa body M as do the ends 63 anal 64 and the holes 66 and 65 of theconductors 56 and. 55 of a connector H.

Thus, after a corner coupling or fitoing 18 is secured in place by beingfitted to adjacent end portions of a pair of strips I5, the acljacentends of a pair of the bodies I4 a1e brought up against the outer sidesof the end Walls 62 and 83 of such corner coupling. Then the selitappingscrews 94 are passed through the openings 92 and 93 and threaded intothe passages 29 and 36 of the respective bodies I4. screws have bodydiameters approximately equal to the diameters of the passages 29 and 36whereby as the screws are threaded home their threads cut or bite intothe Wall portions of the passages 29 and into the conducoors 22 and 23.In this way, the screws are anchored in place and assist in anchoringthe conductors 85 anal 86 and also establish a good electricalconnection between such conductors anal the conductors 22 and 23.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my continuous outlet is easilyand conveniently installed. Through the use f my corner connectors aneat structure at the corner is provided and there is no change in theappearance of the. device as between the corner or any of its otherportions. Due 110 my corner construction, lt is not necessary that anoutlet IT be fitted for each Wall space as the conduccor may becontinued around the corner without difilculty. Thus, the only place Ineed employ t;he outlet fittlng I! is as between a palr of door openingsThese or other openings which\zvould definitely inter rupt theemployment of a single outlet for an entire room. In constructionsheretofore employed, the cor- 11er connectors.have not been satisfactoryand.

have not been of simple construction and neat appearance. With mypresent corner connector as well as with my inlet connector. IT, the topand front of each connector is open so that a small wrench or the likemay be employed for threading home the self-tapping screws 67 'of theconnector I1 and 94 of the connector 18..

Having thus set forth the natura of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a continuous outlet structure, an elongated body of insulatingmaterial, a pair of spaced conductors within said body and ex-f ing astraight portion extending across the forward edge of the bodyand anarcuate portion extending across the upper edge of the body andcomprising approximately one-quarter of a circle, a leg 011 the innerside of said straight portion of said body and located in one of saidentrance slots for the mounting of said cover 011 said body, and said.leg having an offset inner edge located in said notch for the purpose ofpreventing casual separation of said body and cover.

2. In a continuous outlet structure, a metal mounting strip comprising apair cf angularly related wall portions, a short lateral extension onone of said wall portions and in substantially parallel relation withthe other Wall portion, a lip on the frse edge of said extension andextending in the direction of said other wall portion, said strip havingopenings through said Wall portions for the passage of securing screws,an elongated body of insulating material, a pair of spaced conductorswithin and extending longitudinally of said body, said body havingentrance slots extending longitudinally thereof and opening through oneedge and providing formom munication with the respective conductorsthrough said edge, said body adapted be fitted into said strip analhaving a pair of angularly related walls to engage against the innersurfaces of the angularly related Wall portions of said strip, said bodyhaving a notch in one edge adapted to receive said lip on said extensionof said strip, a cover of insulating material, said cover comprising astraight portion extending across said edge of said body, an upperarcuate portion comprising approximately one-quarter 01 a circle andextending across the upper edge of said body, and a leg 011 the innerside of said straight portion of the cover and located in one of saidentrance slots for inounting the cover on said body.

3. In a continuous outlet structure, a pair cf elongated bodies ofinsulating material, said bodies each having a spaced pair oftransversely circular passages extending longitudinally thereof, a pairof spaced conductors within each said body and extending longitudinallythereof in substantially tangential relation to and with pottionsexposed through walls cf said respective passages, a pair of entranceslot5 extending long i tudlnally bf each said body and obening threughone side -thereof and in their inner portions communicating Willh therkespective -conductors, a connector between seid. bodies and compriSinga body of insulating material including angularly related Walls and endWalls, said elongated -bodies at their acljacent ends abutting} said endwa1ls of said connector, a pair cf conductor strips in said eonnectorand spaced from one another and in cluding end portions against theinner surfaces of the end Walls '0f said eon-nectors, and screws passingthrough said end portions and said end Walls and into the adjacentportions of seid transverseW circular passages and having their threadsbiting into the Walls. of said passages and the exposed portions of therespective conductors of the respective bodies whereby said connectorthr-eugh its conducto-rs eleetrically connects the conductors of one ofsaie-l elongated boclies with the respective conductora of the otherelongated body.

4. In a eentinueus outlet structure, a pair of elongated bedies ofinsulating material, said bodies eaeh having a spaced pair oftransversely eireular passages extending longitudinally thereof, a pair01 spaced conductors Within each said body and extending lengitudinallythereof in substantially tangential relation 130 and with portionsexposecl through Walls of saicl respective passages, a pair of entrances1ots extending longitudinally of each seid body and opening through oneside thereof and in their inner portions communicatin with therespective conductors, a connector betWeen said bodies and comprising abody of insulating material ineluding an'gularly related Walls a-nd endWalls, said elongated bodies at their adjaeent ends abutting said endwalls of seid connector, a pair of condi1ctor strips in seid conriectorand spaced from one another and including end portions against the innersurfaces of the end Walls of said connector, screws passing through saidende and seid end walls anal into the adjacent portions of saidtransversely circular passages and having their threads bitin-g intoWalls of said passages and the exposed portions of the respectivecond-uetors of the respective bodies whereby eonneetor through itsconduetcrs eleetrically connects the conductors of one of saiclelongated bodies with the respective conductors of the other elongatedbo-cly, said connector having an opening through one Wall thereof forthe entrance of leads, and. binding posts on the respective conductorsof the cenneetor for the seeuring of leads thereto.

5. In a continuous outlet, a pair of metal r mounting strips eachincluding bottom and rear substantially right anguiarly related Walls, alateral extension on the upper edge of said real Wall and a lip 011 thefree edge of said extension and extending towards said bottom wall, saidstrips arranged With their acljacent ends in slightly spaced relation, aconnector including a body cf insulating material open at its top andforward sides and ineluding substantial1y right angularly related rearanal bettom Walls, end Walls, and a short ledge extending forwardly fromits rear Wall below the upper edge of the latter, said body arranged inspanning relation With the spaced adjacent ends of said strips andhavinga its bottom Wall against the bottom walls of said strips and itsrear Wall against the rear Walls of seid strips anal With the upper edgeof its rear Wall under said extensions of sai-rl strips, said lips ofthe extensions cf th rear Walls of the strips extencling: over theforward edgeof the rear wa1l of said insulating body and disposed ansaid ledge, a pair of conductors in said body and comprising portionsagainst the inner surfaces of the rear Wall thereof and ends against theinner surfaces of the end Walls thereof, said conducters spaced apartwithin said body, an opening through the rear Wall of seid body, leadsentering said eonnector through said opening and between tle adjacentends of said strips, means conneeting said leads with the respectiveeonductors, contact means passing through the ends of said conductorsand said end Walls of said body, elongated bedies of insulating materialin seid strips neyond the end Walls of said body, spaeed conductorswithin anal extending longitudinall; of each of said bodies, and saidcontact means beyond the end Walls of saicl body entering said elongatedbodies and engaging the respective conductors therein.

6. In a continuous oulet structure, a connector comprising body ofinsulating material comprising a pair 0 3 right angularly relatedportions, saicl body in said portions comprising rear and bottern wallsand open through its top and front edges, end Walls closing the ende cfsaid body at the extremes of said portions, upper and lower conductorsin said body against the rear Wall thereof, each of said conductorsincluding angularly related body portions against the similarly relatedportions of seid rear wall ends on said body portions 0f the conductorsand located against the inner surfaces of said end Walls of the body, apair cf elongated. insulating bodies each' having an end disposedagainst the unter side of an end Wall of said connector said bodies eachhaving a spaced pair of transverseiy circular passages therein andextending longitudinally thereof, a pair 0f spaced conductors withineach of said boclies and extending longitudinally thereof insubstantially tangential relation t0 ancl with portions exposed throughthe Walls of the respective passaees, a pair of entrance slots extendinglongitudinally of said body and opening througb one side thereof and intheir inner portions communicating With the respective conductors,seiftapping screws passing through the ends of the conductors of saidconnector and the end Walls of the insulating bodies thereof, and saidpassages in said elongated bodies so located With respect to said screwsthat as said screws are threaded home their threads cut into the wallsof said passages and the exposed portions of seid conductors wherebysaid connector serves establish electrical connection between theconductors in one elongated body and the respective conductors in theother of such elongated. body.

'7. In a continuous outlet structure, an elongated metal mounting stripcomprising first and second angularly related wall portions, a lateralextension on the second of said Wall portions and in substantiallyparallel relation With the first Wall portion, a lip on the free edge ofsaicl extension and extending in the direction of said first Wallportion, said strip having openings through seid Wall portions for thepassage of securing screws, an elongated body of insulating material, apair of spaced conductors within and extending longitudinally of saidbody, said body having entrance slots extending longitudinally thereofand opening th1ough one edge and pro- Viding for communication with therespective conduetors through said edge, said body adapted to be fittedinto saicl .strip and having first and sec0nd angularly related walls toengage respectivlv against the inner surfaces of the first and "secondangularly related wall portions of said -strip, sald body having a thirdangularly related wallangularly related. to the second of its angularlyrelated Walls, said. body having a notch opening through the outersurface of its third angularly related wall and extending longitu-'"dinally thereof in the same spaced relation to theseconcl angularlyrelated wall of the bocly as' is*said lip to the second angularlyrelated wall portion of said strip, and said extension on the secondangularly related wall portion of a Width lessthan one-half the width ofthe first wall of saidstrip whereby said"body may be held at an angleand its third angularly related wall located uncler said extension withthe notch in said. wall receiving said lip and then the body rockeclabout said lip to carry the first and second angularly related Walls ofthe body against the corresponding Walls of said strip.

8. A means for mounting a continuous outlet comprising an elongatedmetal strip including a pair of substantially right angularly relatedwall portlons, a lateral extension on the longitudinal edge of one 01said wall portions and extending therefrom substantially in parallelrelation with the other wall portion, a lip on the free longitudinaledge of said lateral extension and extend- Ing therefrom in thedirection of said other wall portion, said wall portions having openingstherethrough for the passage of securing means, a bowed lip on the freeedge portion of said other wall portion' and bowed in the direction 01said extension, an insulating body of a size and shape to be received insaid strip with outer surface portions engaging the angularly relatedwalls of the latter, said. body having a longitudinally extending notchopening through one surface intermediate the longitudinal edges of saidsurface and receiving the first mentioned lip, said body having a recessin its surface opposite that having the notch and located laterallyoutwardly of said notch and receiving said bowed lip, and said extensionof a width less than one-half that of the wall with which lt issubstantially parallel whereby said insulating body may be held at anangle and its notch receiving the first mentioned lip and may then berocked about said lip into 12 said strip to bring portions of thebodyagainst the angularly related walls of the strip and to engage therecess of the body 0f the bowed 1ip of the strip.

9. A means for mounting a continuous outlet comprising an elongatedmetal strip including first and second substantially right angularlyrelated wall portions, a lateral extension on the edge of the second ofsaid wall portions and extending therefrom in parallel relation with thefirst wall portion, a lip on the free edge of said lateral extension andextending therefrom in the direction of said first wall portion, saidwall portions having openings therethrough for the passage of securingmeans, said extension of a width less than one-half that of the firstwall portion whereby an insulating body having at least three ang ularlyrelated sides may be held at an angle and a portion of one of its sidesengaged under saicl lip and said body then rockecl about said lip intoplace in said strip with its other two angularly related sides againstthe inner surfaces 0f the angularly related first and second Wallportions 01 said strip, and a lip on and coextensive with the freelongitudinal edge of said first wall portion and bowed in the directionof said extension for reception in a recess in a wall of the body.

WINSTON S. PERKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recorcl in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Kilgore June 6, 1950

